Ornamental plastic fabric



Nov. 23, 1943, M STQRCH 2,335,222

ORNAMENTAL PLASTIC FABRIC Filed July 14, 1942 Ila 36 Patented Nov. 23, 1943 ORNAMENTAL PLASTIC FABRIC Max H. Storch, New York, N. Y., assignmto Harry E. Darr, New York, N. Y.

' Application July 14, 1942, Serial No. 450,905

3 Claims. 154-47) This invention relates to the art of molding plastic ornamental fabrics, and to articles made therefrom.

One object of the invention is to provide improvements in the art of molding plastic ornamental fabrics such that a novel composite onepiece structure is obtained comprising decorative heads or projections, a sheet of textile forming a background therefor, and a sheet of plastic forming a flexible stiffening backing so that the structure is self sustaining for various uses, with the textile adding suppleness and tensil strength.

Another object is to provide such improvements whereby stiffening elements of plastic may be additionally obtained between the heads for increased rigidity in one or more directions as may be desired.

Another object is the provision of an improved article such as a handbag embodying the novel fabric hereinafter described.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a portion of a fabric embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a fabric embodying the invention, such as the fabric of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified fabric.

Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive are sectional views of different dies for molding the fabric, according to diiferent methods.

Fig. 8 is a perspective fragmentary view of a handbag embodying the invention, with a part removed.

Theadvantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and fore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exempliflcation of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, Ill denotes a fabric embodying the invention. The same may consist of a textile fabric ll having a backing sheet of plastic material I2 sufliciently thin to be flexible, and a series of variously shaped decorative heads or beadlike ornaments 13 of plastic. These three elements provide a one piece decorative structure, with the plastic backing having some rigidity so that the fabric 10 is self sustaining. Thus the use of various stiifeners or supporting or filler materials, of cardboard, felt and the like may be dispensed with. Nevertheless the fabric ID has suificient flexibility so that it can be readily worked, curved as in forming the bottom of a handbag, and otherwise adapted for making into many different articles. The textile fabric l I adds tensile strength to the fabric l0, so that even if it should be misused, causing the plastic backing to crack, no opening in the fabric will develop and its continuity at the front face of the goods will be preserved. Moreover, the textile ll adds suppleness to the fabric l0, especially as it lies in part between the plastic backing and the ornamental elements l3. The latter may be variously arranged and spaced to suit. If more rigidity is desired, they may be molded closer together, and if more flexibility is desired they may be placed further apart.

The fabric It is moreover waterproof, because the plastic backing l2 itself possesses this characteristic, and because the plastic impregnates the textile H. The fabric I0 is adapted to form an hermetically tight wall so that the finest powders cannot work therethrough. Finally, the

fabric I0 can be directly stitched to make vari ous articles, because the needle of a sewing machin will readily penetrate at parts where the heads l3 are absent. Of course, the fabric can be directly constructed in various shapes, circular, arcuate, polygonal, and the like, or it may be cut down to such shapes. The textile will afiord an attractive background for the heads I3, so that the continuous plastic sheet l2 need not show at all.

In Figs. 2 and 4 is shown a modification, wherein a fabric l4 may be exactly like th fabric ID, except that the decorative heads are disposed in horizontal rows l 5, I6 which are separated a distance greater than that between the heads of each row to afford a high degree of horizontal and bottom extensions l8 hereinafter described.

The spacing of the rows I5 and I6 is of advantage, for example, in a handbag especially at the folded or curved bottom thereof. The heads may be round as shown, they may be polygonal or of other shapes. The ribs or gates l9, which may also extend-in as many radial directions from each head as may be desired, may serve as a control for flexibility of the fabric. The bottom extensions l8 permit the plastic sheet ll to be made thinner than otherwise possible.

In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown sectional views of fabrics, each of which may correspond to either of the fabrics l and M. For convenience one is denoted as l0 and the other as M, the latter being different only in that the plastic backing I1 is thickened by the extensions |8 immediately opposite to the decorative heads, which aii'ord reenforcement anchorages for the intermediate parts of the plastic sheet so that these intermediate parts can be made thinner than otherwise without breaking at the heads. Thus a high degree of predetermined flexibility is obtained with. suflicient rigidity for the purpose desired. At certain points, the rigidity of the fabric may be increased by the very small gates l9 interconnecting a plurality or a series of the heads, and such gates may impart an added ornamental quality to the fabric.

At 20 is shown a die adapted for making a fabric such as shown at II). It comprises a plurality of die plates 2 22, the former having cavities |3a for the heads l3, and the latter having a continuous depression 23 which 'is like one large gate defined by amarginal clamping lip 24. A suitably positioned opening 25 is used for feeding the plastic into the die. A sheet of textile Ila, corresponding to that shown at H, is placed between the die members 2|, 22, the plane lip 24 clamping the textile against the plane marginal face of the die member 2| to tautly secure the textile. This may be facilitated by folding the textile marginally around one die member as at 2|a, and marginally clamping it as by a clamp or split ring 2"), before closing the die. Now the depression 23 bounded on one side by the textile and. is of such depth as to correspond to the thickness of the plastic sheet l2. Upon injection of the plastic at 25 into chamber 23, the plastic fills the latter and is forced through the textile and into the cavities |3a to produce the fabric Ill. The textile is of course porous, butof ampledensity. It need not be a mesh fabric, but may have sufiicient yarns to afford a high degree of tensile strength. For instance, a socalled commercial cheese cloth or somewhat denser fabric may be satisfactory.

In Fig. 6 is shown a die 26 having die members 21, 28, the former being like that at 2|, and the latter having a depression or chamber 29 marginally bounded by a groove or gate 30 around which extends a clamping lip 3|. A gate 32 may feed plastic to the feed trough or gate 30. The operation proceeds as with the die 20, except that the solidification of plastic is more rapid at the outer marginal region 3|a, because the plastic first enters there, and hardens in the water cooled die so as to anchor the textile against slippage or distortion. Thus the clamping action of the lip 3| issupplemented. The plastic rib formed at 30 may be used as a stiffener or may be cut away when the molded fabric is removed from the die. I

In Fig. '7 is shown a die 34-having the members 35, 36, the former being like that at 2| exto simulate beads, or

cept that small openings or gates 31, as indicated at l9, may interconnect some or all of the cavities 38, and the die member 36 having a depression or chamber 39 bounded by a clamping lip or face 40, but the depression having in its underside a series of cavities ll aligned with the cavities 38 but smaller than the latter. A plastic inlet 42 leads to one or more of the cavities 4 The operation is the same as described for the die 20, and thus the fabric I4 is produced. It will be noted that the plastic may flow into the gates 31 from the cavities 38 or from the depression 39 directly through the textile I la.

In Fig. 8 is shown an article such as a handbag 44, embodying the invention. The side walls thereof are generally reenforced by cardboard and cushioning materials which entails much work and expense. Such backings are used even with handbags made of leather. By this invention, the side walls and bottom .9; the handbag may consistof a single sheet Ilia, like that at "I, curved to form the bottom a, and con nected to end gussets 45 as by stitching at 46 which passes directly through the fabric Illa where it is free of the decorative heads l3.

In this handbag a lining may be used or may even be omitted; the side walls are waterproof and are hermetically tight against seepage even of powder. The inside plastic face of the sheet I2 is neat and clean. There is rigidity combined with flexibility, so that, the handbag is self-sustaining and keeps its form. Its shape may be made to suit, as by directly molding the upper curved parts 01'. segments 41 for ornamental reasons. The handbag may also be made of the fabric M, with the rows I5, I6, horizontal. Any suitable closure, such as a slide fastener 48 may be provided.

I claim:

1. A composite fabric having a sheet member of textile fabric, a multiplicity of decorative pro.- tuberant elements on one face thereof consisting of a plastic material, the textile fabric being impregnated throughout with a plastic material integral with the decorative elements, and the latter being spaced sufiiciently so as not to interfere with the flexibility of the textile fabric, and a sheet element of plastic material on the other face only of the textile fabric coextensive throughout therewith and being continuously connected to and integral with the plastic that impregnates the textile fabric, said plastic sheet element being waterproof and being so thin as; to be flexible and readily penetrable by a sewing needle but having stiffness to render the composite fabric firm, whereby backing materials can be dispensed with and articles can be made by stitching said composite fabric.

- 2. A composite fabric comprising a sheet mem ber of textile fabric of the approximate density of cheese cloth, a multiplicity of wear resisting protuberant spaced elements on one face thereof,

and a second sheet member on the other side of the textile fabric, the first mentioned side of the latter being exposed except for said spaced elements, said spaced elements and said second sheet member consisting of plastic material which impregnates the textile fabric to thus .hond thereto the elements and the second sheet member the latter being coextensive with the textile fabric and being continuously united thereto and constituting a stiffening backing for the textile fabric but being sufiiciently thin to permit fiexing of the composite fabric.

3. A composite fabric including a textile sheet member impregnated with plastic, a multiplicity of wear resisting protuberant plastic elements on one face of the textile member, a plastic sheet member on the opposite face of the textile member coextensive therewith, the elements and the plastic sheet member being integral with the plastic that impregnates the textile member, the plastic member being thus continuously united to the textile member throughout, the plastic member beingsufliciently thin so as to be readily flex- 10 

